"Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltness, how will you season it ? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."
Mark 9: 50
The role of salt in the Bible is relevant to understanding Hebrew society during the Old Testament and New Testament periods. Salt is necessity of life and was a mineral that was used since ancient times in many cultures as a seasoning, a preservative, a disinfectant, a component of ceremonial offerings and as a unit of exchange. The Bible contains numerous references to salt. In various contexts, it is used metaphorically to signify permanence, loyalty, durability, fidelity, usefulness, value and purification.
Salt, of course cannot lose its saltiness, but the purity of salt varies. Salt harvested from the Dead Sea, in particular, grows increasingly stale because of those impurities. If the salt is mixed with too many other minerals, the taste will become so diluted, it will be useless. The disciple risk this when they allow the values of the world, like love of authority and power and position, to suppress the purified saltiness that God desires.
Another way to say is to note that ” Saltiness” is the purpose of salt, it’s a defining characteristics of that mineral. This suggests a need for AOJ to treat their role in the kingdom of God as crucial, not secondary.
In a similar way, in Matthew 5:13, Jesus calls all of us to be the salt of the earth. We are to be His agents in purifying our society, our country, our village, our constituencies and so on. Like salt, we are to bring out the better nature of those around us. The result will naturally be greater peace with other. The sentiment brings to mind the ancient salt vow. If two people shared salt, they were bound to defend and support each other, even if they had been enemies. We as follower of Jesus Christ should live out a similar vow with each other.
Jesus’ last phrase brings us back around to Mark 9: 33-35 when the disciples are arguing about who is greatest. While they were worried about their position in Jesus’ Kingdom, He was concerned with the church reaching new believers ( Mark 9: 36-37, 39-40) and the personal sacrifices required for obedience ( Mark 9: 42-47).
Matthew and Luke add that the unsalty will be thrown out and trampled on, which is basically what the disciples wanted to do to the man who was exorcising demons in Jesus’ name( Mark 9: 38). Jesus explains that position and authority are not necessarily markers of how closely we follow Him. The ability to bring out the best in others and bring peace is a much better test.
Let us pray,
Heavenly father enable us like salt, so that we can bring out the best of those around us. Lord help us not to be tempted of position and authority, wherever it may be. Lord help us to follow you closely and be obedience to you in our walks of life. Lord make us a pure instrument to work for your Vineyard. Lord we Pray to you to be our guide and master. Amen.
Sol. Dr. Mohan Parmar